Definition

Percentage of adolescents (grades 9-12) who responded 1 or more times on the [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/chronic/pages/yrbs/yrbs.aspx Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)] to the question: "During your life how many times have you sniffed glue, breathed the contents of aerosol spray cans, or inhaled any paints or sprays to get high, one or more times during their life?" Responses of 0 are not considered as having a positive response for using inhalants.

Numerator

Weighted number of adolescents (grades 9-12) who responded 1 or more times on the YRBS to the question: "During your life how many times have you sniffed glue, breathed the contents of aerosol spray cans, or inhaled any paints or sprays to get high, one or more times during their life?" Responses of 0 are not considered as having a positive response for using inhalants.

Denominator

Weighted number of adolescents (grades 9-12) with complete and valid responses on the YRBS to the question of ever using an inhalant during their lifetime, excluding those with missing, "Don't know/not sure" or "Refused" responses.

Data Interpretation Issues

Alaska has conducted a statewide YRBS biennially since 1995 with the exception of 1997. Weighted data were not obtained in 2001 and 2005 and, therefore, no statewide estimates are available for those years. A YRBS conducted in 1999 did not include the Anchorage School District and, therefore, was not considered a valid statewide estimate. No YRBS was conducted in Alaska in 1997.
Traditional high schools are sometimes called comprehensive high schools. They are public high schools that are distinct from alternative high schools, which serve students at risk of not graduating, charter schools, correspondence schools, and students enrolled in high school in correctional facilities.
Responses are weighted to reflect youth attending public traditional high schools in Alaska.
The question on adolescent (grades 9-12) on ever using inhalants in their lifetime has been asked on the Alaska YRBS since 1995.

Why Is This Important?

The use of inhalants is often overlooked in adolescents, like other illicit drugs, inhalants can become addictive and are a major public health concern.^1^ Use of inhalants can lead to overdose and death as well as have long term effects on a person's neurological and cardiovascular system. ^2^
Inhalants often affect adolescents earlier than other types of substance abuse. Because inhalants often involve substances that can be found around the home or purchased legally -- such as gasoline, aerosols or glues, there are less barriers for use by adolescents.^2^
[[br]]
[[br]]
----
{{class .SmallerFont
1. Howard MO, Bowen SE, Garland EL, Perron BE, et al. Inhalant use and inhalant use disorders in the United States. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2011;6(1):18-31.
2. Baydala L. Inhalant abuse. Paediatr Child Health 2010; 15(7):443-448. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948777/]. Accessed November 1, 2018.
}}

Healthy People Objective: Reduce the proportion of adolescents reporting use of alcohol or any illicit drugs during the past 30 days

U.S. Target: 12.8 percent

How Are We Doing?

On the 2017 YRBS, 6.6% of Alaska adolescents (high school students in grades 9-12) reported ever using inhalants. Current cigarette smokers were more than 5 times likely to report ever using inhalants at 22.1% than non-smokers at 4.0%. Current smokeless tobacco, binge drinkers and marijuana users were also more likely to report ever using inhalants.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

For the 2017 YRBS, the reported rate of ever using inhalants among Alaska adolescents (6.6%) was similar to the national average of 6.2%. Alaska's inhalant use continues to mimic the national trend in decreasing reported use during the lifetime.

What Is Being Done?

The State of Alaska Epidemiologic Profile on Substance Use, Abuse and Dependency is available at: [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dbh/Documents/Prevention/EPI2013.pdf]. This profile provides a more detailed report on the state of substance use and abuse in Alaska.

Evidence-based Practices

There are multiple sources for research on interventions to prevent and reduce the use of illicit drugs in the adolescent population. Alaska is partnering with other states, the [https://www.cdc.gov/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)] and the [https://www.samhsa.gov/ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)] to develop a series of public health strategies gleaned from the evidence base.
SAMHSA maintains a website that collects the latest in substance abuse prevention evidence based practices. The link to the information can be found here: [https://www.samhsa.gov/prevention].

Available Services

If you suspect someone is in a serious situation with inhalant use call 9-1-1 or take the person to an emergency room. Treatment centers for substance misuse can be found at [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dbh/Documents/TreatmentRecovery/SUD%20Providers/Substance%20Use%20Disorder%20Treatment%20Providers.pdf].

Ever Used Inhalants - Adolescents (students in grades 9-12 in traditional high schools) by public health regions, all Alaskans, 2017

Alaska Comparisons

Percentage of adolescents (grades 9-12)

Lower Limit

Upper Limit

Numer- ator

Denom- inator

Record Count: 14

All Alaskans

Anchorage

8.0%

6.7%

9.7%

128

1,404

All Alaskans

Gulf Coast

7.3%

6.2%

8.5%

147

2,011

All Alaskans

Interior

7.0%

5.5%

8.9%

48

692

All Alaskans

Mat-Su

7.7%

5.6%

10.6%

80

814

All Alaskans

Northern

4.0%

2.9%

5.6%

28

679

All Alaskans

Southeast

6.8%

5.4%

8.6%

90

1,082

All Alaskans

Southwest

2.5%

1.7%

3.7%

26

893

Alaska Native people

Anchorage

11.2%

7.9%

15.7%

37

271

Alaska Native people

Gulf Coast

11.0%

8.2%

14.5%

45

388

Alaska Native people

Interior

5.4%

3.5%

8.2%

11

211

Alaska Native people

Mat-Su

12.6%

7.8%

19.7%

22

174

Alaska Native people

Northern

3.8%

2.6%

5.7%

23

570

Alaska Native people

Southeast

13.2%

9.5%

17.9%

33

270

Alaska Native people

Southwest

1.7%

1.0%

2.7%

15

778

Data Notes

Geographic descriptions of the public health regions can be found at: [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/InfoCenter/Pages/ia/geo_phr.aspx].
These data are a regional compilation of YRBS surveys conducted for local school districts. They consist of both representative (weighted) and unrepresentative (unweighted) samples. The representative samples have been weighted to the sex and grade characteristics of their school district. The unrepresentative surveys have a weight of 1 to signify that the information is not extrapolated to other students. The results of the local YRBS program may not meet the statistical rigor of the statewide estimates and should be viewed with caution. However, the local YRBS program does demonstrate the existence of risk factors.

Data Notes

Geographic descriptions of the behavioral health systems regions can be found at: [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/InfoCenter/Pages/ia/geo_bhs.aspx].
These data are a regional compilation of YRBS surveys conducted for local school districts. They consist of both representative (weighted) and unrepresentative (unweighted) samples. The representative samples have been weighted to the sex and grade characteristics of their school district. The unrepresentative surveys have a weight of 1 to signify that the information is not extrapolated to other students. The results of the local YRBS program may not meet the statistical rigor of the statewide estimates and should be viewed with caution. However, the local YRBS program does demonstrate the existence of risk factors.

AK-IBIS Web Citation

Use and reproduction of the information published on this website are encouraged and may be done without permission. The following citation should accompany information from this website whenever it is used, reproduced, or published:

AK-IBIS Indicator Citation:
"[Indicator name]. Retrieved on [insert date] from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health (AK-IBIS) website: http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov/.

Example:
Diabetes Prevalence. Retrieved on March 25, 2016, from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health (AK-IBIS) website: http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov/.

The information provided above is from the Alaska Department of
Health and Social Services' Center for Health Data and Statistics,
Alaska Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health (Ak-IBIS)
web site (http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov). The information published
on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use
the following citation:
"
Retrieved
Sun, 15 September 2019
from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Center for
Health Data and Statistics, Alaska Indicator-Based Information
System for Public Health web site: http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov
".

Content updated: Thu, 8 Nov 2018 09:46:35 AKST

The information provided above is from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services' Center for Health Data and Statistics AK-IBIS web site (http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov/). The information published
on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation:
"
Retrieved
Sun, 15 September 2019 1:44:32
from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Center for Health Data and Statistics, Indicator-Based Information
System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.dhss.alaska.gov/
".